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Journalists Briefed on Nuances of Drug Pricing and Workforce Shortages in U.S. Healthcare

Journalists Briefed on Nuances of Drug Pricing and Workforce Shortages in U.S. Healthcare

A recent briefing by the National Press Foundation brought together health economists to educate journalists on the complexities of drug pricing and healthcare workforce shortages in the U.S. Boshen Jiao of USC focused on drug pricing, while Maanasa Kona of Georgetown addressed workforce issues. The goal was to equip reporters with the right questions to accurately cover these topics, emphasizing that many drug pricing arguments stem from differing interpretations of terms like price, spending, affordability, and value. Jiao highlighted that U.S. brand-name drug prices are more than four times higher than in comparable OECD countries, primarily due to weak competition in areas like exclusivity and biologics. The briefing also touched upon various policy tools, including the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare negotiation and Part D redesign, and the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).

US drug lobby group names former House leader Cantor as CEO

US drug lobby group names former House leader Cantor as CEO

Sept 29 (Reuters) - The top US pharmaceutical lobby group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said on Tuesday it had named former US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as its next president and CEO, as drugmakers face pressure to lower prices.

Caregiving is overlooked issue voters want resolved, AARP survey finds

Caregiving is overlooked issue voters want resolved, AARP survey finds

Millions of Americans are struggling to care for aging relatives, yet the issue remains ignored by politicians.

Medicare Advantage Plans Face Narrowing Margins as Health Costs Rise by 9.6%

Medicare Advantage Plans Face Narrowing Margins as Health Costs Rise by 9.6%

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans experienced a significant increase in health benefit costs, rising by a median of 9.6% in 2025. This surge in costs occurred while administrative expenses remained largely flat, leading to narrowing margins for these plans. The findings, from Sherlock Company's 2026 Medicare benchmark edition, are based on surveys of 11 Medicare-focused health plans covering 2.1 million MA and Special Needs Plan members. These plans collectively serve 15.4 million members, with Medicare products accounting for a median of 35% of their revenues. The report highlights that MA plans now cover over half of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. The administrative costs per member declined by 0.3% in 2025 on a constant-mix basis, marking the slowest rate of change since 2015. This reduction in the administrative cost ratio was primarily due to near double-digit premium growth, which expanded the denominator while administrative expenses stayed consistent. The health benefit ratio for conti...

Community Oncology Practices Face Financial Pressure from Policy Changes and Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

Community Oncology Practices Face Financial Pressure from Policy Changes and Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

Community oncology practices are experiencing significant financial pressure due to a confluence of policy changes, including drug price negotiation, Medicaid coverage adjustments, insurer utilization management, and 340B reform. According to oncology policy leaders at The American Journal of Managed Care’s annual Patient-Centered Oncology Care conference, reimbursement could decrease by 30% to 40% without legislative intervention. The Part D component of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is already complicating planning, with Medicare-negotiated prices for several significant oral oncolytics, such as palbociclib (Ibrance), enzalutamide (Xtandi), pomalidomide (Pomalyst), and acalabrutinib (Calquence), set to take effect in 2027. These changes are forcing practices to adapt to new financial realities and operational challenges. Insurer utilization management, particularly prior authorization and step therapy, continues to burden practices, despite pledges for reform from the Department of Health and Human S...

Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan 'Surge to Save Newborns Act'

Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan 'Surge to Save Newborns Act'

Congressman Nick Langworthy has introduced the bipartisan 'Surge to Save Newborns Act,' co-led by Democrat Congresswoman Kim Schrier. This legislation aims to provide states with dedicated federal resources to implement newborn screenings for serious health conditions identified on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). The bill proposes to allocate $35 million annually from fiscal year 2027 through fiscal year 2031 to strengthen state newborn screening infrastructure and ensure recommended screenings are put into practice. The announcement was made alongside NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, who lost their son, Hunter, to Krabbe disease, a condition that could be detected through early screening. The legislation builds on previous advocacy efforts by Congressman Langworthy and the Hunter's Hope Foundation, which led to the federal government's approval in July 2024 to add Krabbe disease to the RUSP.

Senator Hawley Calls for National Ban on Abortion Drug Mifepristone, Citing Safety Concerns and Increased Abortions

Senator Hawley Calls for National Ban on Abortion Drug Mifepristone, Citing Safety Concerns and Increased Abortions

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is advocating for a national ban on the abortion drug mifepristone, asserting that it is unsafe for both the unborn and the mother. He has introduced the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, which aims to revoke the FDA's approval of the drug. According to Senator Hawley, mifepristone is responsible for a significant increase in abortions, with more abortions occurring now than when Roe v. Wade was in effect. He claims that the drug leads to hospitalization for 11% of expectant mothers who use it, citing life-threatening conditions such as hemorrhaging, infections, and sepsis. Senator Hawley argues that pharmaceutical companies profit from the increased number of abortions facilitated by the drug. He also stated that the drug has turned 'every mailbox in America into a Planned Parenthood clinic,' making it accessible regardless of local regulations. The legislation has garnered seven Senate co-sponsors.

Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act

Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act

Congressman Nick Langworthy has introduced the bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act, co-led by Democrat Congresswoman Kim Schrier. This legislation aims to provide states with dedicated federal resources to implement newborn screenings for serious health conditions listed on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). The bill proposes an annual allocation of $35 million from Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2031 to strengthen state newborn screening infrastructure and ensure recommended screenings are put into practice. The initiative follows advocacy efforts by Congressman Langworthy and the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, which led to the federal recommendation for universal screening of Krabbe disease in July 2024. The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rare-disease patient advocacy organizations, family foundations, and children’s health organizations.

Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans' Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications

Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans' Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has introduced bipartisan legislation, the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, aimed at improving access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans residing in State Veterans Homes (SVHs). The proposed bill would mandate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to either reimburse SVHs for high-cost medications exceeding 8.5% of their per diem rate or directly provide these medications. This initiative seeks to align the support provided to SVHs with the existing arrangement for many private contract nursing homes, which currently receive direct reimbursement from the VA for such medications. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) is a lead co-sponsor of the bill. The National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) has expressed strong support for this legislation, highlighting its importance in ensuring that expensive medications do not limit long-term care options for aging and disabled veterans. Currently, the VA provides a per diem to SVHs but does not cover the cost of...

Representative Virginia Foxx Engages in Stock Trading Activity

Representative Virginia Foxx Engages in Stock Trading Activity

Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, has been identified as engaging in stock trading activities. According to recent data, she has made three trades within the last 90 days. This places her among a group of members of Congress who have actively traded stocks during this period. The data also indicates that over her entire tenure, Representative Foxx has made a total of 790 trades, positioning her among the top ten most active members in terms of all-time disclosed trade counts. The information is part of a broader tracking system that monitors congressional trading statistics, providing transparency on financial activities of U.S. lawmakers.

Congressman Jim McGovern Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill for Medically Tailored Meals Pilot Program

Congressman Jim McGovern Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill for Medically Tailored Meals Pilot Program

Congressman Jim McGovern has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5439, known as the 'Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act.' This bill, co-sponsored with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), recently passed unanimously out of the House Ways and Means Committee, marking a significant step towards its final passage. The proposed legislation aims to establish a six-year Medicare pilot program. This program would involve 40 hospitals providing medically tailored meals to eligible Medicare beneficiaries who live at home and suffer from diet-impacted conditions, such as diabetes and heart failure, after their hospital discharge. The meals are designed by nutritionists to meet the specific health needs of each patient, and the program is intended to be budget-neutral, incurring no additional cost to taxpayers.

Coalition Urges Congress to Address Wildfires as National Security Threat in Defense Bill

Coalition Urges Congress to Address Wildfires as National Security Threat in Defense Bill

A growing coalition is advocating for the inclusion of the 'Fix Our Forest Act' in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), arguing that wildfires constitute a national security issue. Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Director for the Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, highlights that wildfires frequently impact military readiness and occur on military bases. National Guard and reservists have been mobilized for wildfire response in 23 of the last 25 seasons, with Air Force Reserve and National Guard also utilized through the C-130 MAFFs program. The proposed bill aims to streamline planning and permitting, reduce litigation on federal projects to mitigate wildfire risk, and establish a community risk reduction program. A key provision is the creation of a wildfire intelligence center, envisioned as a fusion center for federal agencies to coordinate mapping, modeling, and predictive services for risk reduction, response, and post-fire recovery, accessible to state, local, and tribal governments. This cen...